PCT: Day 192: In it to win it! Part 1

Miles today: 20
Trail miles sum: 2016.8
SOBO Trail location: 1322.8
Elevation: 5051
Spinning on the turntable: Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466. Seong-Jin Cho

It was 26 degrees this morning when I started hiking. Just a tiny bit nippy!

PCT Southbound
Early morning hiking

I’m such a sucker for sunrise pictures! I’m pleased to have my point and shoot camera back from Sony repair. It feels right in my hand. I’m complete again as a hiker.

I’m hiking near the Boiling Lake Spring today. I could smell the Sulphur before I reached the lake.

PCT Boiling Lake
Boiling Lake

I can hear the hiss and burbles of stream escaping the lakeside mud before I can actually see the lakeside shore.

PCT Boiling Lake
Gurgling hot water

The fields of green are long gone, replaced by fields of brown.

PCT Southbound
It’s a different season now

After I left the lake I continued to climb up the mountain following the PCT signs….which was good….until I took the PCT North trail without thinking. I’m now hiking the PCT as a SOBO.

An hour and a half later I found myself back at Boiling Springs Lake!

PCT Boiling Lake
The lake again

Thus far this morning, after two hours, I was less than a mile from where I began the day. After a tremendous amount of wailing, gnashing of teeth and stomping of my feet I did the only thing I could do. I turned around, aimed myself in the correct direction and resumed hiking.

After a long uphill slog I found myself back at the trail branch where I followed the north leg instead of the south leg of the trail. I followed the correct loop the second time around.

PCT sign post
To Terminal Geyser

Yet somehow, even with checking the map multiple times, I ended up headed towards the geyser instead of hiking on the PCT. When I realized I had again taken the wrong trail I only had .1 mile left to reach the geyser. With only .1 miles left to the trail head I opted to just keep hiking.

The geyser was, well…

PCT Boiling Lake
Lots of steam

Less than exciting. It was really just a big load of steam coming out from the rocks. Not very exciting.

PCT Boiling Lake
Thermal pond

What I thought would be a easy day of hiking of 20 miles turned into a longer day of hiking due to my multiple trail following errors. I’m guessing I actually hiked closer to 26 or 27 miles.

PCT Southbound
Great views though!

The views continue to be spectacular! The weather in the afternoon is in the mid-60’s with sunshine. I can feel my suntan returning!

Viva California sunshine!

PCT sign post
Remember to hike towards Mexico now!

Noelle hiked out to meet me and we chatted as we made our way to the trail head. It was nice for a change to have a trail wide enough for us to walk side by side.

5 Comments

  1. Heidi L Halverson

    I love this post. I find it so appropriate that you get lost in the physical world when you are lost in your emotional world. You can’t outrun (or outwalk) your problems. They hitch a ride wherever you go.

    Reply
  2. Chainsaw Manlove

    I’ve heard of this modern invention called a compass…

    Reply
  3. VFat

    Your picture is at the top of the latest “Redditors on the PCT” entry on the PCT subreddit!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous

    🤦‍♀️ Oh no what a day. At least Noelle was able to be with you part of the day. I have to say, it would make me feel a little restless with the hissing and gurgling sound and seeing steam seeping through the earth.
    Godspeed
    Liz from FresnoRetro

    Reply

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